Tasty recipes from chef Ronit Penso's kitchen

Pecan and Strawberry Jam Mini Bars

During strawberry season, I prepared a few batches of strawberry jam. As with any jam that is prepared with a fairly small amount of sugar, it doesn’t keep as well as the sugar loaded jams. So, instead of waiting for it to spoil, I’ve decided to use some of it to prepare the following tasty mini bars.
To make things a bit more interesting, I substituted some of the flour in the dough with lightly toasted pecan, which added a nice nutty flavor. To make the dough more crispy and crumbly, I also substituted some of the flour with fine semolina. A bit of cinnamon added another layer of aroma that worked so well with the fragrant strawberry jam.
The bars turned out very tasty and fragrant. Cutting them into mini size squares made it easier to serve them as part of a dessert buffet, but they can be cut into any size you prefer. Try them and enjoy.

Notes:
* I used homemade strawberry jam (recipe can be found HERE), but any good quality store bought can be used instead. For best results, lightly puree the jam, so it will be smoother and easier to spread over the dough.
* Any other fruit jam can be used instead of the strawberry.
* If you prefer sweeter bars, increase the amount of sugar in the dough to 1 cup, and use a sweeter jam.

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Line an 8×8” (20×20 cm) pan with baking paper.
2. Mix the semolina, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and pecans in a food processor bowl, fitted with the metal blade. Blend briefly, to form a crumbly mixture. Add 1-2 Tbs of half and half or milk, just enough to bind the mixture.
3. Transfer ¾ of the dough mixture into the lined pan, and press it with your palms, to form an even layer. Spread the jam over the dough and crumble the rest of dough on top.
4. Place the pan in the lower third of the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, until the top layer is golden. Holding the baking paper, transfer the bake onto a rack, to cool to room temperature.
5. Transfer to a large cutting board. Using a large heavy knife, cut bars any size you prefer.

Thank you Annika, I’m glad you liked these tasty treats. It’s a shame that all nuts are banned, as it is well known by now that children who were not exposed to them at all, suffer more from nut allergies. It’s very wise of you to give it to your children after school. 🙂

Love all the substitutions you made here Ronit to make those perfect tasty treats. I love too that they are small and dainty. If I made them, I’d freeze a whole load as I wouldn’t trust myself and being bite-sized, I’d just help myself to a couple straight from the freezer 🙂 Beautiful!

Nice buffet 😋…
On the topic of homemade strawberry jam with little sugar: I am pretty sure you can freeze it, provided you do not fill the jar to the top. Nothing I hate more than prepared, then wasted food!